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BKK Post (13-10-99)Military presenc

Subject: BKK Post (13-10-99)Military presence won't be boosted

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<font size=5><b>Military presence won't be boosted<br>
</font><font size=4><i>Surayud says extra patrols not needed<br>
<br>
</font></b></i><font size=3>The army will not dispatch reinforcements to
counter the increased presence of Burmese soldiers on the border, Gen
Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.<br>
Extra patrols were not necessary because the army has maintained constant
contact with the Rangoon forces, said the army commander-in-chief.<br>
Any incursion would be dealt with in compliance with international
agreements. If fighting spilled over into Thai-land, the army had &quot;a
way of issuing warnings&quot; to Burma.<br>
The reinforcement followed the border closure which itself was a
consequence of the Oct 1 Burmese embassy siege, as Rangoon displayed a
degree of hostility towards Thailand for assisting in the escape of the
Burmese hostage-takers.<br>
The Foreign Ministry said Burma's military reinforcement was normal
practice aimed at suppressing its ethnic minority rebels.<br>
Gen Surayud said normally rebels fleeing the fighting would be barred
entry unless on humanitarian grounds.<br>
In that case, they would be disarmed and their weapons confiscated before
being confined to refugee camps.<br>
The army chief said he had no idea where the five Burmese hostage-takers
were hiding. They have remained out of sight since the authorities flew
them to the border in Suan Phueng district, Ratchaburi, after they
released hostages at the embassy.<br>
Meanwhile, the Tak chamber of commerce called on the government and Burma
to seek ways to resolve the misunderstanding so as to end the economic
squeeze triggered by Rangoon's decision to close its border and suspend
fishing concessions for Thai fishermen. <br>
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</font><font size=5><b>Surin to seek talks on student exiles<br>
</font><font size=4><i>UNHCR to be asked to help solve problem through
resettlement<br>
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</font></i><font size=3>Post Reporters<br>
</b>Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan yesterday announced plans to hold
talks with the UNHCR in Geneva soon on third country resettlement for
Burmese students now living in Thailand.<br>
The minister said he would seek talks with the United Nations refugee
agency at the end of this month, while attending conferences in Geneva of
the UN trade and development authority and the International Red
Cross.<br>
Thailand would like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to appreciate
the gravity of the problem, and help solve it, Mr Surin said.<br>
The minister made the disclosure after an hour-long meeting with
Kachadpai Burusapatana, the National Security Council secretary-general
who urged the UNHCR to send all Burmese students under its care to a
third country, after self-proclaimed &quot;Vigorous Burmese Students
Warriors&quot; held 38 people hostage at the Burmese embassy for 25 hours
on Oct 1.<br>
The UNHCR is assisting about 2,700 exiled Burmese students in Thailand,
including about 1,000 living at the Maneeloy holding centre in
Ratchaburi, and the rest scattered in Bangkok.<br>
Mr Surin said Thailand had delayed solving the problem of Burmese
students because of the &quot;delicate&quot; nature of the refugee
issue.<br>
Several countries had responded positively to the resettlement idea but
it remained to be seen how and who would co-operate in practice, he
said.<br>
Many countries recognised the importance of helping ease Thailand's
problem, and of giving the students a chance to develop their potential
through education, Mr Surin said.<br>
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